Reducing-valve.



I'. M. CARROLL. RED'UGING VALVE.

APPLIOATION FILED H1B. 11, 1909.

Patented Dec.28, 1909.

ANDREW, e, muuu no. Pkufo-uvmurwns wAsHmGron. n. c.

FRED lVI. CARROLL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

REDUCINGr-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed February 11, 1909. Serial No. 477,430.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED M. CARROLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reducing- Valves; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specilication, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a view in central longitudinal section of a reducing valve constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 a broken view of the valve, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section on the line L4-Z2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 a view in elevation of the upper half of the high-pressure end of the device with the head of the outer casing broken away, the guard or housing of the micrometer-screw being shown in vertical section. Fig. 4 ya detail plan view showing the graduated scale located above the micrometerscrew.

My invention relates to an improvement in reducing valves, as valves constructed to reduce liquids or fluids from high to low pressures are commonly called, the object being to produce a simple, compact, reliable and effective device constructed with particular reference to dispensing with the flexible diaphragm commonly employed in such valves as well as other parts delicate in their nature and liable to derangement.

While my improved reducing valve is adapted for reducing air, gases, steam and liquids from high to low pressure, it is particularly adapted for use in reducing water from high to low pressure, as for instance, water supplied at high pressure to lire hydrants from which it must be taken at a low pressure.

IVith these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In 'carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ a casing consisting of a substantially cylindrical outer shell 2 provided at its inner or high-pressure end with a lianged threaded head 3 which, when removed, affords access to the interior of the casing. rI`he said head 3 is provided with a concentric threaded intake hub 4 with which the supply pipe, whatever it may be, is connected. The outer shell 2 contains a co-ncentric-inner shell 5 cast integral with and supported by radial webs 6 joining the inner face of the outer shell 2, whereby the interior of the casing is divided, as it were, into a low-pressure or reducing chamber 7, and a concentric high-pressure chamber 8 which latter is in direct communication with the hub 4. At its outer or low-pressure end the outer shell 2 is formed with an integral threaded hub 9 concentric with the hub 4 and provided for the attachment of the lowpressure or service pipe whatever it may be. The inner shell 5 is made larger at its inner than at its outer end and consequently-the inner end of the low-pressure chamber 7 is made larger than the outer end thereof.

Within the low-pressure chamber 7 I locate, as shown, a sliding reducing-valve 10 the outer end of which opens and closes a series of radially arranged ports l1 leading through the Outer end of the inner shell 5 from the high-pressure chamber 8 into the smaller outer end of the low-pressure chamber 7, which at its eXtreme outer end opens directly` into the hub 9 aforesaid. At its extreme inner end the valve 10 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 12 tting the enlarged inner end of the lowpressure chamber 7 and moving back and forth in a concentric clearance space 13 formed between the middle portion of the said valve and the middle portion of the enlarged linner end of the shell 5 as the resultv of differentiating the diameter of the shell 5 so as to malte its inner end larger than its outer end. This construction secures a larger area for pressure upon the inner end of the valve than upon its outer end. The said clearance-space 13 is connected directly with the atmosphere by means of a small vent 14 which maintains atmospheric pressure in the said space 13. The two ends of the valve 10 are separated by means of a partition 15 to which is attached one end of a helical spring 16 the other end of which is attached to a hollow nut-like boss 17 formed at the center of a flanged and threaded cap 18 employed to close the inner end of the inner shell 5, and when removed, aording access to the interior thereof.

A radial passage 19 leads from the outer end of the low-pressure chamber 7 through the outer end wall of the outer shell 2 and merges into the reduced outer end of a small cylindrical valve-chamber 20 formed inthe l periphery of the said shell, extending parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof, and containing a small pilot-valve Q1 havingA a stem 22 encircled by a spring 23 the oppositeto cause the pilot valve 21 to be operated at a predetermined pressure.

From, about midway the length ofj the chamber 20 a passage 29 leads, as shown in Fig, 2, to the inner 'end of the low-pressure chamber 7 as shown in Fig. l. To prevent the inner end ofthe passage 29 from bei-ng closed by the flange 12 of the reducing-valve 10, I provide the cap. 18 with abutments 30 with which the flange 12 engages, as shown 111 l'.

If' desired to hasten the opening of the valve 10, I" may provide its flange 12 with a relief-opening 31 extending from the inner end of the reducing-chamber 7 into the clearance space 13 which is at atmospheric pressure. The passages 19, valve-chamber 20 and; passage 29 form in effect a continuous passage between the ends of the lowpressure chamber 7 but for convenience of description are designated as passages 19, chamber Q0 and passage 29. In the claims these features are collectively called a passage which in effect they are.

I may also state that the total area of the ports 11 should be in excess of the total cross-sectional areal of the low-pressure or service outlet 9.

For convenience of description, the operation of the device will be described as for reducing water from high to low pressure. It should' be understood, in the first place, that the function of the spring 1Gl is to normally maintain the reducing valve 10 in its full open position at the inner end of the low pressure chamber 7, whereby all of the radial ports 11 will be left open. If now water at high pressure is admitted into the high-pres sure chamber 8, it willr pass through the ports 11 into the outer endof the low-pressure chamber 7 and thence into the low pressure or service outlet 9. The water will continue to ow, gradually rising in pressure in the service outlet 9 and' hence in the passage 1 9, until the accumulation of pressure in the said passage 19 passes the predetermined point at which. the pilot valve 21 has been set. The pilot-valve 21' will now open and a portion of the water will flow through the valve-chamber 20 and the passage 29 to the enlarged inner end of the low-pressure chamber 7. soas to act. upon the flanged inner end of the sliding valve 10 which will now be gradually moved outward so as to gradually close the ports 11 against the back-pressure in the outer end of the same chamber and against the tension of the spring 16. This closing movementof the reducing-valve 10 continues until an equilibrium of pressure has been established, or in other words, until the pressure in the outer or low pressure end ofthe low-pressure chamber 7 corresponds to the pressure required to open the pilot valve 21. In case the pressure falls in the outer end of' the low-pressure chamber 7, the reducing valve 10 willmove inward and so gradually open, owing to leakage around the flange 1Q from thev enlarged inner end of the low-pressure chamber 7 into the space 13' which opens tothe atmosphere through the vent 14. This opening movement of the reducing valve 1'0 will continue until the said valvev is fully open, providing the pressure continues to fall at the outer' end of the lowpressure chamber 7. @n the other hand, should the pressure in the outer end of the low-pressure chamber 7 rise enoughy after the valve 10 has closed, to establish an equilibrium, as before described, the pilot valve 21 willl again be openedI to permit a portion of thc water to flow through the valve-chamber 2() and 'passage 29 to the enlarged inner end of the low-pressure chamber 7. The valve lOwill then-be gradually closed, and so on.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the pilot-valve 21 is ready at all times-to respond to any increase of pressure in the outer end ofthe low-pressure chamber above a predetermined point and byv virtually transmitting this increase of pressure to the enlarged' inner end of the reducing-valve 10, cause the same to besufiiciently closed to offset the increase, whatever that may be.

In practice the pilot-valve 21 is set so as to be sensitive to slight changes in the increaseof pressure and operates so as to maintain the pressure in the outer end of the lowpressure chamber 7 at a constant point within narrow limits of'variation.

If desired ordinary pressure-gages may be appliedl to the device so that any variation of pressure within the device may be readily observed.

The pilot-valve 21 which controls the operation of the reducing-valve 10 docs so by being located, as may be said, in a continuous passage tapping'the opposite ends of the low-pressure chamber, this passage comprising the passages 19 and 29 and the small passage-like valve-chamber 2O containing the pilot-valve 21 as already explained;

By arranging the high and low-pressure chambers so that one surrounds the other, andk by locating them in line with the water inlet and outlet, I secure a construction which is compact, simple and easy to manu ILO facture since concentric parts are easy to produce and fit, while the use of a plurality of radially arranged ports gives my improved reducing valve a large capacity for \vork,-the number of ports enables a large amount of water to be transmitted and their arrangement constricts and retards the water but little.

I claim l. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high and a low-pressure chamber one surrounding` the other, of radial ports leading from the former to the latter, a valve sliding in one of the said chambers to open and close the said radial ports and having one of its ends larger than the other, an atmospheric vent located between the ends of the chamber containing the valve, and a passage leading from Othe smaller to the larger end of the valve.

2. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high and a low pressure chamber one surrounding the other, of radial ports leading from the former to the latter, a valve located in the low-pressure chamber, sliding to open and close the said radial ports and having one end enlarged, an atmospheric vent located between the ends of the said lowpressure chamber, and a passage leading from the smaller to the larger end of the valve and a spring connected with the said valve and tending to move the same so as to open the said radial ports.

3. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high and a low pressure chamber one surrounding the other, of a circular series of radial ports connecting the said chambers, a valve located in one chamber and operating to open and close the said ports, means operating the said valve by low-pressure, and an atmospheric vent so situated as to allow the valve to operate.

a. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high and a low-pressure chamber one surrounding the other, of a circular series of radial ports connecting the said chambers, a sliding valve located in one of the said chambers, operating to open and close the said yports and larger at one end than the other, a spring connected with the said valve and tending to move the same so as to open the said ports, means operating said valve by low-pressure including a pilot-valve, a micrometer screw located in the outer wall of the outer chamber for the adjustment of the said pilot-valve, and an atmospheric vent so situated as to allow the valve to operate.

5. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high and a low-pressure chamber the former surrounding the latter, of a circular series of radial ports leading from the said high pressure chamber to the said low pressure chamber, a sliding valve located in the low -pressure chamber, operating to open and close the said radial ports and larger at one end than at the other, a passage leading from the outer to the inner end of the said low-pressure chamber, and formed in the outer wall of the said high pressure chamber, a pilot-valve located in the said passage and responding to the accumulation of pressure in the outer end of the low-pressure chamber, and a vent to the atmosphere located between the ends of the low-pressure chamber.

6. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high-pressure chamber, of a concentric low-pressure chamber surrounding the said high-pressure chamber, radial ports leading directly from the former to the latter, a passage leading from the outer end of the low-pressure chamber into the inner end thereof, a valve located in the low-pressure chamber, sliding to open and close the said radial ports and exposing a larger area to pressure at its inner than at its outer end, a pilot-valve located in the said passage and responding to the accumulation of pressure in the outer end of the low pressure chamber, and a vent to the atmosphere located between the ends of the low-pressure chamber. Y

7. In a reducing valve, the combination with a high-pressure chamber, of a lowpressure chamber located concentrically within the said high-pressure chamber and larger in diameter at its inner than at its outer end, a circular series of radial ports connecting the said chambers, a passage leading from the outer to the inner end of the low-pressure chamber through the outer wall of the high-pressure chamber, a sliding valve located in the low-pressure chamber and formed at its inner end with a flange extending into the enlarged inner end of the low-pressure chamber, a pilot-valve located in the said passage responding to the accumulation of pressure in the outer end of the low-pressure chamber, and a vent from the enlarged inner end of the lowpressure chamber to the atmosphere.

8. In a reducing valve, the combination with an outer shell, of a removable head closing the inner end thereof, a concentric inner shell having its outer end perforated, a removable cap closing the inner end of the said innershell, the space between the two shells forming a high-pressure chamber and the inner shell inclosing a low-pressure chamber the ends of which are connected by a passage; of a sliding reducing-valve located in the said low pressure-chamber and at its inner end exposing a larger area to pressure than at its outer end, a pilot-valve located in the said passage and adapted to be set to respond to any predetermined accumulation of pressure in the outer end of the low-pressure chamber, and a ventto the atmosphere from the enlarged inner end of the low-pressure chamber.

Y9. .In u reducing valve, .the combination wlth a Ihlgh-pressure lchamber, of a concentric low-pressure chamber surrounded by the Suid :high-.pressure chamber, a .circular series of radial porte leading from the former :to the latter, a passage lending :trom theouter :to the sinner end -of .the lo\v.pres sure `chamber through the :outer :Wall Ioit' -the seid high-pressure {cha-mber, a malve in the low-pressure chamber, a pilot-Valve located in the :said :passage and responding tto the accumulation of pressure :n .the outer end of the lowepressure hem'bera -a micrometerscrew for kthe adjustment 'of fthe pilot-valve located n the sind message :and arranged parallel 'With the ams of the sedfchambers, amd 'a fhousng l,or guard for lprotecting 'the micrometer-screw.

lO. .In Ya .reducing valve, the lcombination with un' inlet, .of an outlet `concentric ythere- Wtl1,hgh.andllowpressure chambers nterposed between theeeidinlet and outlet and arranged 'concentric therewith, ,one of .the said chambers vsurrounding the other, kradial y.ports lending :from l:one chamber vto the other., a `valve llocated n 1one Chamber and operating to open and close the said ports, means operating the said valve by low-pressure, and an .atmospheric vent situa-ted to allow the rznlve to operate.

In testimony whereof, JI -hztvesigned this Speocaton in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

`FRED M. CARROLL.

Vitnesses GEQRGE DUBLEY Snmromz, CLARA L. VEED. 

